Upgraded ironing machine, particularly for ironing trousers

Abstract

Upgraded ironing machine, particularly for ironing trousers, comprising a supporting structure ( 2 ) of at least two substantially vertical pressing plates ( 3 ), arranged so they are facing each other and moving from a home configuration, wherein the pressing plates are substantially a long way from each other, and a working configuration wherein the pressing plates are substantially close together, at least one ironing plate ( 4 ) substantially vertical and interposable between the pressing plates in the working configuration and at least one supporting element ( 11 ) of at least one pair of trousers positionable with the crutch arranged by a lower portion of the ironing plate and the legs laid and extended upwards respectively on the opposite sides of the ironing plate, and emission means ( 21 ) of at least one flow of air and/or steam inside the trousers and through the opening marked by the waistband of the trousers.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An ironing machine for ironing trousers, comprising:
 a supporting structure of at least two substantially vertical pressing plates arranged facing each other and moveable from a home configuration wherein said pressing plates are substantially a long way from each other, and a working configuration wherein said pressing plates are substantially close together, 
 at least one ironing plate substantially vertical and interposable between said pressing plates in said working configuration, 
 at least one supporting element for at least one pair of trousers made of fabric and having legs, a crotch and a waistband, and 
 emission means of at least one flow of air and/or steam inside said trousers and through an opening marked by the waistband of said trousers, 
 wherein said trousers are positionable in said ironing machine, for being supported by said supporting element, with the crotch arranged at a lower portion of said ironing plate and the legs laid and extended upwardly respectively on the opposite sides of said ironing plate, and 
 wherein said emission means comprise at least one blowing element of air and/or steam arranged in proximity to the lower portion of said ironing plate and provided for generating a flow of air or steam that causes the trousers to balloon out in an area between the crotch and the waistband, thereby stretching the fabric of the trousers in said area and preventing formation of unwanted creases. 
 
     
     
       2. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said blowing element comprises at least one air and/or steam outlet vent turned towards said ironing plate and at least one air and/or steam inlet vent associable with at least one air and/or steam generator. 
     
     
       3. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said blowing element is substantially cylindrical hollow and elongated in shape. 
     
     
       4. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said emission means comprise a small supporting frame of said blowing element having an end hinged to a supporting framework of said ironing plate. 
     
     
       5. The machine according to  claim 4 , wherein said emission means comprise rotation actuator means for rotating said small frame close to and away from said ironing plate. 
     
     
       6. The machine according to  claim 5 , wherein said rotation actuator means comprise at least a linear actuator interposed between said framework and said small frame. 
     
     
       7. The machine according to  claim 5 , wherein said rotation actuator means are of the pneumatic, hydraulic or electromechanical cylinder type. 
     
     
       8. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said emission means comprise at least one fan. 
     
     
       9. The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein said fan is associated with at least one heating element of said air flow. 
     
     
       10. The machine according to  claim 9 , wherein said heating element is of the electrical resistor type. 
     
     
       11. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion of the ironing plate is shaped to define a housing cavity for housing the crotch of said trousers. 
     
     
       12. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting element is arranged in proximity of an upper portion of said ironing plate. 
     
     
       13. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting element comprises at least two projecting parts defined in proximity of the upper edge of said ironing plate and by the opposite sides of said ironing plate to which the free ends of the legs of said trousers are temporarily fixable. 
     
     
       14. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting element comprises at least one supporting clamp of said trousers. 
     
     
       15. The machine according to  claim 14 , wherein said supporting element comprises at least two of said supporting clamps arranged on opposite sides of said ironing plate. 
     
     
       16. The machine according to  claim 1 , comprising automated positioning means of said trousers with respect to said ironing plate. 
     
     
       17. The machine according to  claim 16 , wherein said automated positioning means comprise moving means for moving said supporting element along at least one moving direction. 
     
     
       18. The machine according to  claim 17 , wherein said moving direction is substantially vertical. 
     
     
       19. The machine according to  claim 18 , wherein said moving means comprise at least one sliding element moving on a framework of said ironing plate along said moving direction. 
     
     
       20. The machine according to  claim 19 , wherein said moving means comprise sliding actuator means of said sliding element. 
     
     
       21. The machine according to  claim 20 , wherein said sliding actuator means comprise at least one linear actuator associated, at one end, with said framework and associated, at the opposite end, with said sliding element. 
     
     
       22. The machine according to  claim 20 , wherein said sliding actuator means are of a pneumatic, hydraulic or electromechanical cylinder type. 
     
     
       23. The machine according to  claim 19 , wherein said moving means comprise at least an arm integrally associated with said sliding element and with which said supporting element is associated. 
     
     
       24. The machine according to  claim 23 , wherein said arm comprises a substantially vertical first section associated with said sliding element and a second section that extends substantially horizontally from said first section and which has said supporting element. 
     
     
       25. The machine according to  claim 17 , wherein said automated positioning means comprise at least one detection device for detecting the position of said trousers with respect to said ironing plate operatively connected to said moving means. 
     
     
       26. The machine according to  claim 25 , wherein said detection device comprises at least one position sensor. 
     
     
       27. The machine according to  claim 26 , wherein said sensor is associated with at least one between a framework of said ironing plate and said supporting structure, below with respect to said ironing plate. 
     
     
       28. The machine according to  claim 1 , comprising automated gripping means or at least a part of said trousers. 
     
     
       29. The machine according to  claim 28 , wherein said gripping means comprise at least one first holding clamp of said trousers arranged in proximity of said lower portion of said ironing plate. 
     
     
       30. The machine according to  claim 29 , wherein said gripping means comprise at least one second holding clamp of said trousers arranged in proximity of said lower portion of said ironing plate, said first and said second holding clamp being provided in proximity of substantially opposite vertical edges of said ironing plate. 
     
     
       31. The machine according to  claim 30 , wherein at least one between said first holding clamp, said second holding clamp of said gripping means and a supporting clamp of said supporting element is of the pneumatic, hydraulic or electromechanical operated type. 
     
     
       32. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said ironing plate comprises air suction means. 
     
     
       33. The machine according to  claim 32 , wherein said air suction means comprise a plurality of suction holes distributed on at least one of the sides of said ironing plate. 
     
     
       34. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said ironing plate has a cross section substantially growing from the portion suitable for receiving the rear part of said trousers to the portion suitable for receiving the front part of said trousers. 
     
     
       35. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion of the ironing plate defines a housing cavity for housing the crotch of said trousers, wherein the lower portion of said pressing plates is shaped to reproduce the profile of said housing cavity. 
     
     
       36. The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said ironing plate is supported by a supporting framework, wherein said framework is associated slidingly to the supporting structure between an external position, in which said ironing plate is arranged externally to a compartment of the supporting structure and an internal position, in which said ironing plate is arranged internally to said compartment and is interposed between said pressing plates, substantially parallel to these. 
     
     
       37. The machine according to  claim 28 , comprising a management and control unit operatively connected to at least one between said emission means and said gripping means. 
     
     
       38. The machine according to  claim 16 , comprising a management and control unit operatively connected to said automated positioning means. 
     
     
       39. The machine according to  claim 14 , comprising a management and control unit operatively connected to said supporting clamp. 
     
     
       40. The machine according to  claim 32 , comprising a management and control unit operatively connected to said suction means.